The Impact: May 20th -26th 2012

Published on May 26th, 2012

Hey Everyone, how are you all enjoying your Memorial Day weekend? I for one am celebrating…The marketing for The Dark Knight Rises has officially kicked into high gear and I am nerding out.. We get a new theatrical one sheet, character posters, banners and two new television spots. Speaking of Dark Knight we also get some casting news regarding the animated adaptation of The Dark Knight Returns. Oh enough teasing already lets just get right into this week’s installment of The Impact.

Both DC and Marvel Take Strides Towards More Diverse Comic Universes.

Earlier this week we learned with much press and fanfare that the wedding Marvel had been teasing in Astonishing X-Men was between Northstar and his boyfriend, Kyle Jinadu. While Northstar is far from the first gay character to grace the pages of the Marvel Universe, this is the first gay wedding for the Marvel Universe. While talking wit the LA TimesMarvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso said, “The Marvel Universe has always reflected the world outside your window, so we strive to make sure our characters, relationships and stories are grounded in that reality,”

Not one looking to be left out of the the headlines DC Comics also announced that in the coming months an iconic character who was previously seen as straight will come out as gay. As to which character DC is keeping that secret under lock and key.

One Toronto paper referred to this as “an arms race for tolerance” and while I think this is ultimately a good thing, I look forward to the day where this isn’t a story. Where it’s accepted as common place. I liked that in this week’s issue of the Flash it was revealed that Barry Allen’s boss David Singh was in a relationship with the Pied Piper with to little to no fanfare.

I’m hoping that both companies have taken the time to craft both stories into something really great and character driven and not just something to grab headlines. Either way we shall see. The wedding issue of Astonishing X-Men hits stands June 20th. As to when we will know the DC heroes identity that remains to be seen, hopefully before the end of the summer.

Well this was the first poster out of the gate and it is by far the weakest. I did not believe this was official until I saw that it was in fact Warner Bros. who released it. It just had too much of a Photoshop 101 vibe to it. While maintaining the same visual language from The Dark Knight poster it just comes off as uninspired compared to the brilliant teaser poster of Bane walking away from the shattered cowl. But it does do it’s job of telling us there is a new Batman movie this summer. Luckily the marketing gods heard our pleas and the next day we saw six character posters focusing on Batman, Bane, and Catwoman, and new stills from the film courtesy of Batman-News.comand Empire magazine.

I really like everything we have seen of Anne Hathaway’s interpretation of Selina Kyle. And yes the inner fanboy in me wants her to wear a cowl but you know what I really looks like her interpretation of Selina is spot on which is way more important that any one element of a costume.

My favorite piece of promotional art are definitely the six banners that were released on Thursday and Friday which really accent the coming war between Batman and Bane.

Two television spots were also released this week. Both really play up the fact that Batman has to return and the Bruce and Selina dynamic.

Speaking of footage… on Friday we learned that new footage will be screened at this years MTV Movie Awards which airs Sunday, June 3, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. So it has taken awhile to get started but the marketing for The Dark Knight Rises is in full effect. What do you think? The Dark Knight Rises opens in theaters on July 20th.

Jon Favreau Returns to Iron Man 3 As Happy Hogan.

News broke on Friday that Jon Favreau would be returning as Happy Hogan in Iron Man 3. This is not a complete surprise (Favreau is still a producer on the film) but still very welcome knowledge that the Iron Man and Iron Man 2 director would be back. Favreau was not the only casting news to come out of Wilmington, North Carolina. JOBLO.COM is also reporting that William Sadler (Shawshank Redemption) and Ashley Hamilton have joined the cast Hamilton will be playing the villain Firepower. I really think the casting department is just showing off at this point, the cast for this movie is just ridiculously good. Iron Man 3 hits theaters May 3, 2013.

Mads Mikkelsen Up for Villain Role in Thor 2.

Variety is reporting that Mads Mikkelsen is currently in negotiations to play a villain in Thor 2. It’s already been established that Tom Hiddleston’s Loki will be in the film so I’m interested to see if Loki will be a friend or foe to our favorite Asgardian. Mikkelsen is a great actor and I look forward to seeing what he will bring to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thor 2 opens November 15, 2013.

Check out the First Look at Danai Gurira as Michonne.

Entertainment Weekly nabbed the first look at Danai Gurira as Michonne. And boy is it spot on. I really liked how the second season progressed, particularly after it returned from it’s winter break. I’m interested to see how the show will move on now that it really seems to have found it’s groove. The Walking Dead which just started shooting it’s third season will returns this fall.

Well there you have it folks I hope you all have a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend. Take care.